is a factor which exerts a considerable influence on the properties of the resulting nitro-cellulose, and affords a means of regulating the temperature of displacement.  A rate of displacement which has been found suitable is about two inches in depth of the vessel per hour when treating highly nitrated celluloses, but this rate may, in some cases, be considerably increased.  The flow of water at the top of the apparatus is regulated so that a constant level is maintained.  By this means the water gradually and entirely displaces the acids from the interstices of the nitro-cellulose, the line of separation between the acids and the water being fairly sharply defined throughout.  The flow of water is continued until that issuing at the bottom is found to be free from all trace of acid.  The purification of the nitro-cellulose is then proceeded with as usual, either in the same vessel or another.

In the process above described, the object of the introduction of a small layer of sulphuric acid is mainly to prevent the fuming which would otherwise take place, and is not essential, as it is found it can be omitted without any deleterious effect.  In order to use the mixed acids in the most economical manner, the waste acid from a previous operation may be used for a first nitration of the cellulose; being afterwards displaced with fresh acids which carry the nitration to the required degree before they are in turn displaced by water.  The apparatus may be used merely for the removal of the acid, in which case the nitration is carried out in other vessels in the usual way, and the nitro-cellulose removed to the displacement apparatus where it is just covered with waste acid, and the displacement then proceeded with as above described.  In some cases the process is carried out in an ordinary nitrating centrifugal, using the latter to effect preliminary drying after acid extraction.  This gives a great advantage over the usual method of working ordinary centrifugal nitrating apparatus, because the acid being removed before the centrifugal is run, practically all danger of firing therein disappears, and a greater proportion of the waste acid is recovered.

In some cases the acids and water may be supplied by perforated pipes, lying along the edges of the nitrating vessel, and these edges may, if desired, be themselves made inclined, like the sides of the troughs f.  In the case of effecting nitration in centrifugals as above, the displacing sulphuric acid and water may thus be supplied round the edges of the machines, or removal troughs such as f may be used.  It will be obvious that any inert liquid of suitable specific gravity may be used instead of sulphuric acid, as a separation layer.

Moulding.—­By means of the small measuring tank above referred to, the gun-cotton pulp is drawn off from the stuff chest, and run into moulds of the shapes and sizes required.  Thence a large proportion of the water is drawn off by means of tubes connected with the vacuum engine, the moulds having bottoms of fine wire gauze, in order to prevent the pulp from passing through.  Hydraulic pressure of about 34 lbs. on the square inch is then applied, which has the effect of compressing the pulp into a state in which it has sufficient consistency to enable it to be handled with care, and also expels a portion of the remaining water.